Page 61 of The Blood Traitor

“That’s a life motto right there,” Kiva said dryly.

Tor’s lips tipped up. But then he asked, “How areyoufeeling about everything? Zalindov? Navok? Zuleeka?” Tentatively, he added, “Jaren?”

Kiva froze, not having expected him to turn the questioning on her. “I’m —”

She was saved from answering — and lying — by the return of Caldon and Cresta, who warned about a nearby patrol and suggested they take a break until the Gray Guards moved on.

When it was safe to continue, Kiva quickly positioned Zephyr untilshe was beside Eidran, praying her brother would forget that she’d never responded to his questions. When Ashlyn engaged Torell in conversation and rode forward with him, Kiva loosed a relieved breath. Eidran looked at her strangely, but said nothing — and continued saying nothing as the hours passed, his presence calming and steadfast, his companionable silence leaving her feeling more content than she’d been in a long time. It didn’t matter that her backside started to ache and her muscles were stiffening up — she almost began to enjoy the scenery from her peaceful place beside him.

But then the landscape began to change as they traveled deeper into the craggy gray wasteland of southern Mirraven, making Kiva shudder as she remembered her recent journey north. They wouldn’t be venturing anywhere near Zadria this time, but still, when she closed her eyes, she could see Navok’s handsome face... and she could feel his fist slamming into her cheek. It barely hurt anymore, the Serpent’s Kiss lingering in her system enough to continue accelerating her healing. Even her shoulder only smarted a little toward the end of the day’s ride, which was significantly better than Kiva had feared.

The first night sleeping out in the open was unpleasant, the ground hard, the Mirraven air chilly despite the fire Caldon kept ablaze with his magic. The canvas shelters they’d brought remained in their packs, with Ashlyn deciding they wouldn’t waste time setting up a full camp unless the weather required it. That left them all attempting to find a place around the fire where the rocky earth didn’t dig painfully into their travel-sore bodies.

Riding all day had left Kiva exhausted, but after a quick meal of bread, cheese, and dried meats, she wasn’t able to fall sleep as swiftly as those around her. It wasn’t just that every pebble beneath her felt like a boulder, or that Galdric snored loud enough to wake the dead. It was that Jaren was barely five feet away. The last time they’d slept soclose —closer, even — had been the night she’d fallen asleep in his arms after Queen Ariana’s magical attack. That felt like a lifetime ago now.

Unable to quiet her mind, when Kiva finally managed to drift off, she was plagued by nightmares. She was back at Zalindov. Navok was ordering Xuru to attack her. Zuleeka’s shadows were choking her. The dreams continued all night, disturbing her sleep and causing her to jolt violently awake when someone shook her shoulder.

“It’s dawn,” Caldon said, tugging her blanket away.

“’S time t’go?” she slurred, squinting blearily up at him.

“Not yet,” Caldon answered over the snores still echoing around them. “It’s training time, Sunshine.”

Kiva groaned and tried to reclaim her blanket, but he tossed it out of reach.

“Up,” he ordered, throwing some fresh clothes at her. “You’ve got five minutes.”

Kiva didn’t want to hate one of the few people who could still stand being around her, but Caldon made it difficult for her not to wish all kinds of unpleasantness upon him. She called him every foul name she could think of under her breath as she stumbled down to the stream they’d camped near, and it was only after she’d splashed frigid water on her face and changed into another of Ashlyn’s leathery outfits that she finally felt human enough to rememberwhyshe needed to train.

Heading back to camp, it took her a moment to spot Caldon standing beyond the makeshift corral they’d set up to contain their mounts overnight. As she rounded the pen and the horses dozing within, she noticed he wasn’t alone: Jaren, Naari, and Eidran were already sparring together, and, to Kiva’s surprise, Torell was also there, facing off against Ashlyn.

It was easy for her to forget she was traveling with a group of veritable warriors. Royals, guards, generals, spies — her companions hadspent years honing their bodies into weapons. Watching them practice unarmed combat was just as awe-inspiring as it was to witness them crossing blades. Even her brother had been given a sword, with it glinting in the weak early light as he and Ashlyn sparred at an alarming pace.

“I suppose it’s too much to assume you kept up with your exercises while you were in Zalindov?” Caldon asked, his arms crossed as he looked from the fighters to Kiva.

“She did,” came Cresta’s yawning voice as she approached. “And I joined her. So I’ll be joining you today, too.”

“I thought I was training my magic?” Kiva asked before Caldon could protest Cresta’s declaration.

“You’re doing both,” he said. “Magic requires strength, and strength requires endurance. Being physically fit will give you more energy and make you more powerful.” He shrugged, then admitted, “That’s how it works for elemental magic. I’m winging it with healing magic.”

Kiva glanced back at the camp, where Galdric and Tipp still slept. “Maybe we should wait until —”

“Start stretching, Sweet Cheeks,” Caldon said, before eyeing Cresta. “You too.”

“What, no degrading nickname for me?” Cresta asked, batting her eyelashes.

“I don’t think you want to hear my name for you,” Caldon replied, turning and striding toward Jaren, Naari, and Eidran.

A flare of interest hit Cresta’s hazel eyes, and Kiva groaned inwardly, but the redhead locked it down as Caldon returned with the sweaty Eidran.

“Have you had any combat training?” the spy asked Cresta, studying her solid build with a critical eye.

“Some,” she answered.

Kiva snorted, thinking of the fights the ex-quarrier had caused at Zalindov and doubting they counted.

But Cresta shocked the humor right out of Kiva when Caldon threw an assessing punch at her. Instead of ending up with a bruised sternum, Cresta darted to the side and grabbed his outstretched hand, yanking him forward while angling her boot behind his knee. It took some quick footwork on his part to escape her hold without toppling to the ground, after which he sent her an impressed grin and said, “Nice,” before jerking his chin at Eidran.

---